Special Report: Rob Benedict and Jason Manns in Germany.

- by Aggie

This is my first special guest writer articles, by my friend Aggie! Aggie recently went to Rob and Jason's concert in Frankfurt! So did my friend Angie who was lovely enough to get me their tour CD, signed and all!

Aggie was kind enough to let me share this wonderful report with you guys...and her experience with fandom...I think we can all relate to everything Aggie says here! I can't wait to see Aggie (and Angie) again in Vegas! I hope you enjoy this fantastic report! Find out more about Aggie here  And don't forget to give Aggie plenty of love in the comments!

Also thanks to Linda @ontara9 for letting us use her photos - check out more of her great shots here.

-sweetondean

You never know what being part of a fandom will make you do. 

Like, take your 7 years savings, buy a gold ticket from a friendly girl in South Korea online, book a flight and end up in Vegas, staring at your favorite show´s actors on stage, tearing up (from joy, excitement, and mostly, from laughing).

Your family shakes their heads, sending concerned looks your way for weeks (you get used to it though), and now and then you hear them mutter words that sound suspiciously like 'midlife crisis“ or "regression to teenage behavior“. You smile at them amiably, and vanish into your room/behind your computer screen to go find ways to get the money for your next convention, stealing furtive glances at the absolutely stunning pics of the before mentioned actors that have mysteriously started to appear all over your room since you came back.

After a few weeks, you realize that finding the money for your next Con isn´t an option, but a necessity like breathing, eating, or sleeping (and you cut down on the latter two in order to get there). If someone around you asks you what "that music you´re hearing“ is, you just mumble, "from Vegas“, and they immediately shut up, or even leave the room before you can add another word (people don´t appreciate educational speeches any more...oh, the times we live in!)

You´ve met fandom, in all its facettes of love, commitment, and sometimes, craziness; you´ve found friends, people you haven´t known of only a month ago and won´t probably meet more often than once a year, if at all, but share your deepest secrets with, because you´ve bonded over a TV show, shedding tears and laughter alike (well...no. The tears definitely prevailed, but – you know. Nothing better to find your true soulmates than sharing a masochist obsession with a self-sacrificing TV character).

You are, after some time, aware that maybe your family isn´t exactly wrong when they accuse you of being "slightly over-enthusiastic over this show of yours“, looking at your pile of t-shirts (inexplicably, all of them seem to have a common theme), the wall of your room ("Why do you keep that Kansas license plate on your wall?“), and jewellery ("Salt? Why do you carry salt around your neck?“), or lately, your own skin ("What do you mean it doesn´t come off – I thought it was a STICKER?“).

Slowly, but inevitably, everything slightly related to your show starts to get a special place not only on your desk, but inside your heart, too. 

This is how you get to know about one of the actors´ concert tour he's doing together with a singer you happened to hear at the last convention you attended, a singer who managed not only to produce a Christmas CD uniting the voices of half the cast of your show (and yes, you are still listening to it daily, in FEBRUARY, partly because one of the songs happens to be your alarm´s cherished ring tone now), but also to totally save your otherwise depressingly dull Christmas Eve with an endearingly improvised stage-it show, starring your favorite actor in his very own living room (it absolutely makes you look over the fact that said singer now sports a somewhat scary beard and wears a jacket he might have found in the box his Mom put in the attic fifteen years ago).

The concert tour happens to take place not 18 flight hours away, but an encouragingly unimpressive 6 hours by train.

You contact your friends. You buy concert tickets, and, well, as there is a meet and greet scheduled right before the concert, you get one of those, too; and as you are already there, you also take the lunch that´s on offer (one has to eat anyway, so why not share meals with friends and celebrity musicians, right?)

You tell your family you´re gonna be away for the weekend "to celebrate all our birthdays“ (which is the truth and nothing but the truth).

And that´s how you find yourself inside "The Lame Donkey“, a small restaurant somewhere on the outskirts of Frankfurt in Germany, waiting for your celebrities to arrive, which they do, actually, together with the other 20 fans who are lucky enough be part of the day´s special treats.

You watch Jason Manns order "THIS Schnitzel“, getting hilariously enlightened on the topic of Schnitzel varieties by the clueless waitress, and trying the famous "Green Sauce“ out of a small bowl she offers us tourists generously. You almost lose it when the vast family celebrating Grandma´s birthday at the other table in the room starts throwing glances, whispering between them, and one of the nicely dressed grandsons obviously tries taking pictures with his phone without anyone noticing; you see Rob Benedict smile in his beaming way, giving an autograph to the girl from the other table when she finally finds the courage to ask for it (grandma doesn´t seem as impressed as her, but I guess in her time, she wouldn´t have minded having her napkin signed by Cary Grant either). You eat, you chat, you meet new people of the Fandom Family, and you all agree on the fact that your stars are the friendliest, nicest, and most adorable ones of all (seriously, no other fandom could be as lucky as you are!).

After two hours, when the waitress starts leaving hints that it's nearing of closing time, y´all leave; stomachs pleasantly full and hearts filled with renewed love and joy.

You pass the time between lunch and concert (a few hours only, really) on the floor of your hotel room, doing three 500 piece puzzle starring the face of one of your stars, deep concentration only rarely interrupted by happy cries of joy ("I got his right ear!“ "Here´s the last hair part!“).

You put on comfy, warm clothes (it´s freakingly cold outside), order a taxi, and find yourself sitting on a chair in a circle of other fans reminding you of good old school times and AA meetings (the guests have brought wine, though). There´s an additional guest, Paul Carella, whose Scottish accent is as cute as is it making understanding him a question of focus and good will.

Fan, asking Rob and Jason: "Do you see yourself as an actor doing music or as a musician also doing some acting?“

Rob, he admits, has always seen his acting as the profession he earns his money with; music has been more of a heartfelt and beloved hobby; nowadays, though, music fills a bigger part of his life than before, as he´s doing 14 conventions with Louden Swain in the US per year, JIBCon in Rome, and concerts in between as well. Jason sees himself as a full time musician who does the occasional odd acting job.

They both talk about the pleasurable week they spent in Jason Manns´ home studio recording songs for their tour, and admitted to not even having had the time to listen to it before they came to Germany, as the CDs were printed there.

Jason and Rob were asked about their writing process. I can´really remember Jason´s answer (sorry, guys, Rob´s eyes can be pretty distracting); but Rob said that the songs come to him in various forms, sometimes with music, sometimes with lyrics first; and that sometimes one of his band brings a nice riff or an idea, and they later find words and lyrics to match it.

Jason explained the way they wrote the songs for their tour, each one bringing their ideas and inspiration, and trying to find a unique way of melding their very individual styles into something new and special; he said they would sometimes stop at some point, knowing that "If we go on this way, it will be a Jason Manns song, and if we choose that way, it will sound like a Rob Benedict song.“, so they would take a new road instead.

Rob also told us how music calms him, centers him, being a slightly nervous and jittery person ("My whole family is“).

They both agreed on the fact that they are still nervous in a good way before concerts, excited to play and sing; and that even if it costs some effort to bare your soul singing on stage, it is also deeply satisfying to know how people share your emotions, your experiences, interpreting your songs in their very own way.

They told us it's nice to be in direct contact with the audience in small concerts like the one we´d get to enjoy; and that at conventions it was a little weird to have everyone sit on their seats (due to Creation´s policy), missing the interaction. Rob admitted though that it´s getting pretty crazy when they´re the ones to introduce Jared and Jensen before their afternoon panel and "2000 excited people are in the room, and we can entertain them while J2 are taking their time eating sandwiches backstage".

And then, the chairs are put away, and it´s time for music to take over.

Rob is the first on stage, practically radiating energy, enchanting us with his music and personality; his voice ranging from an intimate whisper to passionate shouts, always deeply emotional.

Jason then touches us with his silky, warm timbre, the tiny smiles almost hidden in his beard when fans sing along (or take over for good). He even manages to weave a very recent charts hit into his gig, making us grin.

Paul, the new face on the show, gives us a piece of his beautiful, sometimes super deep, goose bump-evoking singing.

Then it´s Rob and Jason together on stage, and they are perfect in the way their voices, so different in color and sound, melt together into emotional, heartfelt songs. It´s a joy to see them interact, musically and otherwise, with each other and with the audience. Technical issues occur, and are solved with a smile, giving us the wonderful chance to hear them unplugged for one song (and it´s the treat of the evening, in my opinion). Some fans are singing along, others are just listening and watching, and all of it has a special feeling to it – like being with friends, ready to enjoy themselves as well as forgive the overly enthusiatic part of the audience – because, well, it´s family, you know?

The gig´s over far too soon, but we are treated by the musicians showing up for chats, photos, and with pens ready to sign CDs, friendly and relaxed and all in all so damn nice it makes you want to take them home and cook their favorite meals for them for the rest of your life (in exchange for a song now and then, maybe?). When I asked Jason how he got Jared to sing for his Christmas With Friends CD, he said; "Well, everyone´s asking me that, but you know – I asked him, and he just said, `Sure, no problem, let´s do it!´“

Rob was super sweet when my friend managed to somehow freeze her camera and it took several tries to get a slightly blurry photo done ("Oh, I don´t mind hugging you two some more!“).

Then it´s time to say good bye. The knowledge I´ll see Rob in only a month in Vegas, and Jason in a few in Rome, lessens the pain noticeably; and after the purchase of a pretty cool JM/RB concert tour t-shirt by one of our merry group (I literally forced myself to NOT take one too – you know, with Vegas ahead and all...), we were in a taxi back to our hotel room, where three unfinished puzzle games were waiting for us. The taxi driver might have had his doubts about us, seeing as we were giggling and taking photos of his passenger seats´ headrest for no explicable reason. Inside the fandom, of course, there´s plenty of explanation for our behavior.

YOUR TEXAS - YOUR ADVENTURES

It´s like this, and we´ll have to just accept it: from the moment we enter this fandom, there are two parallel universes spreading around us. And no one outside the Supernatural created one will ever understand what´s going on in there.

PS...

Three very, very, VERY secret facts we came to know while munching on Schnitzel (Rob and Jason) and a weird meal consisting of fried potato peels (me; strangely delicious!) Take your pick as to which ones are the honest-to-God truth!

1. Rob has gotten Jason´s face tattooed on his back, while Jason sport´s Mishas lovely features permanently inked into his skin (which, he admitted, always leads to some issues when he´s swimming in Jensen´s pool).

2. They shared a room in Cologne, and not only that, but also a bed ("And a pretty narrow one, too!")

3. Due to the room sharing, they also had the pleasure of watching each other take showers through an only seemingly frosted glass panel. You can easily say they not only bared their souls to each other. Sadly, they forgot to take pictures of their respective backs to prove point 1.

-Aggie

The Light on Spoilers, Heavy on Squee Preview of Supernatural 10x13 "Halt & Catch Fire"

-by sweetondean

PREVIEW PREVIEW PREEEEVIEW! PREVIEW PREVIEW PREEEEVIEW!

Okay yes, I was just singing preview to the conga line song! EVERYBODY! PREVIEW PREVIEW PREEEEVIEW!

Okay, I'll stop. But you know how I get excited about new Supernatural!


THEN

Sam said he believed in Dean.
Dean looked like maybe he believed Sam believed in him.
Sam said they'd work it out, they always do.
Dean looked like maybe he believed that they'd work it out, they always do.
Fans dared to believe that Dean believed that Sam believed and because Sam believed maybe Dean believed!
Then we all did something we never thought we'd do...we added Taylor Swift to our Supernatural playlist.


NOW

THE INTERNET IS BAD?
INCONCEIVABLE!


Yes, the Internet is evil...whoda thunk it...well me sometimes. No really. Like when it keeps me up all night, or when it's too slow, or when it keeps crashing, or when it makes me overly ragey... Come on! You know I'm right!

Anyhoooo....here's the synopsis!

'Halt & Catch Fire'

GHOSTLY CONNECTION — A ghost starts killing people through various electronic devices. Sam  and Dean discover who was killed and why this ghost is seeking revenge on a group of college students but what they can’t figure out is how he’s doing it. With three dead, the brothers must stop the ghost before he claims his next victim. John Showalter directed this episode written by Eric Charmelo & Nicole Snyder (#1013). 

Eric Charmelo & Nicole Snyder last wrote "Ask Jeeves", which I LOVED! This is John Showalter's first episode for season 10, having not directed a Supernatural episode since 9x12 "Sharp Teeth"!

So "Halt & Catch Fire" sounds pretty monster of the weekish. We usually have a couple of MoW's before we kick into the the big picture stuff at the back end of the season (and 10x14 is going to be mytharc Mark of Cain city). But having said that, every episode this season seems to be more mythalone than standalone - in that we're always in touch with that nasty problem the brothers are desperately trying to deal with. It's never forgotten and I like that like crazy. So I expect that the Mark will at least get a mention, because even though the sun was shining on Dean at the end of the last episode, you know that thing on his arm will still be causing him grief, and both brothers will be focusing on how to get rid of it. And I wouldn't be suprised if something happens at the end of this episode that starts us towards 10x14.

Let's check out the promo!

Eeeee! It looks like a good old fashioned ghost hunt...well maybe not old fashioned, as this ghost seems to be high-tech!

You know what I giggled about when watching this promo? The fact that most of us will be on the interwebs while watching the show! I mean, come on! This fandom lives on the Internet, which is probably why the show did an episode like this...because we will so totally get it! Thankfully I don't have a mouse that can strangle me!

You know what else I giggled about? Dean telling that girl to stay calm. STAY CALM AROUND DEAN WINCHESTER? INCONCEIVABLE!

Um. This would be where the sneak peek would normally go.... WHERE IS IT CW????

I'll just have to put more photos in!

Another rainy episode, more damp Winchesters! 

Not that you can tell with Dean because his hair is waterproofed by product!

EMF METER!! But more importantly, WET SAM! Could we be that lucky? 

Could we get two episodes this season with a wet and drippy Sam Winchester?!

Salt and burn? This case looks like it has an old school vibe except for the Internet bit. 

Have they ever torched a car before?

Sam has definitely had the GHD out. But I'll forgive him because he's so pretty.

For a minute I totally thought Dean had this girl tied up and I got all distracted. But no. But I'm still distracted. I'm not sure how you'd act opposite Jensen Ackles and remember your lines.

I feel like this is going to be hot...because this is hot. 

And yes, I sometimes want to do this to the Internet too.

So there we go. We have Winchesters with EMF monitors, we have burning stuff, we have evil computers and killer Internet and we have a soggy Sam! All feels like it's going to be fun!


STOP THE PRESSES! JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO POST THIS PREVIEW...
O.M.G. SNEAK PEEK!!!
FINALY.

Okay, so who else wants to go through Dean's deleted files? Um. Yes. Me. For reasons.

So Dean is eating up a storm and checking out college chicks. Good. One thing I liked about last week's "About A Boy" was that Dean was back to allowing himself to be Dean. It's like when he took that first drink and said he was going to believe in himself, he was seeing if he could be himself and still in control, which his lovely scene with grown up Tina showed was indeed possible. It could be that in releasing his inner Dean, or trusting himself to be himself, he's showing that he's starting to believe, like Sam, that maybe he can live with this thing...which of course means it's all going to go pear-shaped in about 32 seconds. Damn you Supernatural for making me suspicious and paranoid!

Of course the other explanation behind this scene is that it's always fun to see Dean checking out the chicks, eating bad food and finding out something from Sam he absolutely didn't know and pretending he knew it all along! (And seeing Sam's, sure you did Dean, face!) I love that the two college girls give Dean the once over too. Imagine walking into your cafeteria and seeing Sam and Dean sitting there. HOLY MOLY!

So, as I was saying, this looks like it could be fun and maybe creepy! Certainly "Dog Dean Afternoon" and "Ask Jeeves" were both fun (though not creepy). Man, I loved "Ask Jeeves", so at least recently, Nicole and Eric have delivered some laughs and good eps. (We won't mention their first outing, that mannequin one...).

By the way Halt and Catch Fire is a computer term for code that causes a computer to stop operating, also known as Self Destruct Immediate...

What do you think?

Happy viewing, everyone and enjoy the episode!
-sweetondean

Want To Write For sweetondean?

Invitation for guest writers!

LOVE Supernatural? Feel the need to write about that love? Haven’t got a place to share your thinky thoughts and squeeing squee?

sweetondean is opening its doors to guest writers!

We are currently looking for guest writers to do quality, entertaining and fun pieces on the show Supernatural, Supernatural conventions and the Supernatural fandom. 

sweetondean was created as a space to celebrate Supernatural and is a safe haven for Supernatural fans who like positive, constructive commentary and want a place to come that is all about the joy Supernatural brings into their lives. 

So if you think you'd fit right in at sweetondean, feel the need to squee about something, (or everything!), and just have to share  that squeeage with fellow fans, here's your chance to do so via an established website!

Please email sweetondean at contact.sweetondean@gmail.com for more information.

-sweetondean

Review - Supernatural 10x12 "About A Boy" - SHAKE IT OFF

I have so much love for this episode, SO MUCH. I went in with high hopes that we might get something in the feels department like Adam Glass’ “Bad Boys” delivered, and guess what? We ended up getting oh so much more! 

I guffawed during “About A Boy”! Guffawed, clapped my hands, yelled OH MY GOD to no one, balled my fists into my face and made little happy squeaky noises, whimpered little heartbroken whimpers, and sighed the sighs of a fan-girl in love. IT. WAS. AWESOME.

I adore the brothers Winchester. It’s no secret. They’re why I watch the show. They’re what I originally fell in love with. The brothers. Their fight. Their struggle. Their epic bond. The last part has been tested over and over throughout the 10 some years that I’ve been following their journey. But through the lies and the demon blood and the soullessness and the not looking and the angel implantation and the angry, hurtful words, I’ve always seen that bond; that love. Because when all of this was going on, when all the hurtful things were being said, or done to each other, the brother’s still never left each other’s side, and they still supported each other. In a 10 some year history together (that we’ve been witness to), those bumps in the road have been just that, bumps in the road. And though for us, who are totally in love with these two men, they sometimes seem monumental and all encompassing, they really are just blips in their epic journey. The majority of the time these brothers are in some way or another showing their commitment to each other, even if it’s just by not walking away.

I’m an eternal optimist, a glass half full girl. Hell, I’m a glass totally full girl! And that’s probably why my vision of the brothers has never waivered, because it’s in my nature to see the good, the great, the amazeballs, where others might not. I’ve often called it my rose coloured Winchester glasses, but bottom line, my faith in them is just that, faith, and it has never faltered. Ever. Not once. Simple put, I believe in Sam and Dean.

And to be honest, I’ve loved watching their trials and tribulations, because that’s life. It throws shit in your face all the time, and every so often, no matter how quick you try to deflect it, a little bit ends up in your mouth (nice visual huh!). I’ve always been of the opinion that to have these two, hot headed, vastly different, opinionated, stubborn, passionate men never fight, or be completely furious with or disappointed in each other, would have been totally unrealistic. We all fight with those with love; sometimes bitterly and our Universe is far less complicated, violent and bizarre! (I hope, anyway!)

To have Sam and Dean be so seriously upset with each other and yet still come through loving each other makes everything all the more powerful and rewarding. It makes their love more powerful, it makes them more powerful and it makes me love them with a powerfulness that I find at times hard to contain! I love watching the Winchesters overcome, never stop battling through, never give up, never give up on each other. They inspire me and they give me hope. How many people can say that about the characters in a TV show they watch? The Winchester brothers give me hope, because if they can get through it all…so can I (Yes, yes, I know they’re fictional, but still.) Sam and Dean are my heroes.

And here we are, with the brother’s facing one of the worst problems they’ve ever had to face. Something that’s already turned one of them into the thing they hate the most, and is threatening to do it again. And with all that sometimes, churning water under the bridge, they are now stronger than ever, facing it together, talking, being honest…BEING HONEST. Seriously, I can’t even with how much I love Sam and Dean Winchester! 

“About A Boy” was one of my favourite episodes of the season. The script was brilliantly funny and smart. The story was cool. The monster of the week was inventive and the broments were OFF THE CHARTS! There was simply so much to adore about this episode I’m not sure where to start… Excuse me while I ramble!

I’m crazy about Dylan Everett’s performance as grown up Dean in Jnr Dean’s body. There was not one single moment that I didn’t believe 100% that I was watching Dean Winchester. Dylan’s mannerisms, his cadence, the way he moved, his facial expressions, everything was absolutely spot on. The kid is mini Jensen! I listened to his after show interview on YouTube about how Jared gave him some advice, because no one other than Jensen knows Dean better than Jared, because he’s watched his buddy play the guy for 10 years. It’s lovely to think of Jared guiding Dylan and making suggestions based on choices he knows Jensen would have made with his character in a certain situation. Having to step into another actor’s role would be daunting. Playing that character, as a young version of themselves is one thing, but having to play that character how they are today, is a totally different story. I’m sure Dylan watched tonnes of episodes. I’d like to hear more about how he prepared. I was completely blown away by the kid (well, actually he’s 20). Dylan was simply remarkable. No other word for it. Five stars from me kiddo. 

Young/Old Dean and Sam’s chemistry was also perfect. Once again, I never doubted that I was watching my favourite brothers. The way Sam knew nearly instantly that it was Dean at his motel door. I guess he would have recognised him from when he was a kid, but still! That must have been a head-trip too…having your big brother standing there as the younger version of himself who was your idol growing up! How confusing! Jared’s face painted the scene picture perfect. Recognition followed by incongruity! That face continued in the car too, as Sam and Dean discussed Dean’s predicament. That whole Impala scene made me whoop and holler with joy! I swear I was clapping my hands! It was crazy fun.

There was a freedom to Young/Old Dean; he seemed looser and less world weary – even though technically, he was the same on the inside. He was just as heroic as he always is, he was just as cranky around the edges, but lighter. And damn he was funny too! And oh my God, I couldn’t help but appreciate all the dick jokes. I can’t help it; I sometimes think there’s a 13-year-old boy living inside my brain! (Don’t even start me on how I snicker every time I see the number 69 anywhere!) But seriously. SERIOUSLY. No grass on the infield. It’s up, it’s down, it’s up for no reason. And then the absolute best Sam and Dean banter I’ve heard for a very long time:

Sam: Dean, I’m way too big to fit in there.

Dean: First time you’ve ever had to say that huh?

Sam: Big talk coming from the dude wearing Underoos.

OH MY GIDDY AUNT! The visuals. Thank you Adam Glass for that perfect moment!

One of the aspects of this episode I appreciated the most was the fact that the Mark of Cain was still on the brothers’ minds. Even though they were up to their ears in a bizzaro world case, and Dean was half the size he usually is, the boys were still discussing their primary concern of the moment. Of course, Jnr Dean was Mark free, which was probably why he seemed looser and a bit lighter. Hearing Sam and Dean discuss whether Dean should stay a 14 year old because that would be better than being a psycho rage monster/borderline demon, was heartbreaking, but also speaks a hell of a lot to how Dean is feeling and not articulating – even though he is articulating a fair amount. And in the end, after Dean had made the choice to revert back to his grownup self in order save his brother and Tina; the Mark was still front and centre, because Sam couldn’t even listen to Dean’s jokes without asking if “it” was back.

This episode could easily have gone another way. It’s happened before when we’ve had a monster of the week episode and the overarching problem of the season has been conveniently forgotten. But the way Adam Glass wove in the Mark of Cain and the mythology around it into the brothers’ awareness and conversations was absolutely seamless and kept us, including Sam and Dean linked in to the bigger picture. Such good work.

As for gigantic Sam and Dean…I love how honest they’re being. I love that Dean is open enough to admit he’s worried about the Mark. I love that Sam is standing firm next to his brother, giving him pep talks. I love that they’re back to teasing each other. The Easter Bunny thing was squee worthy and I love that Sam played along with it. Both of them had a tiny smile dancing around the corners of their mouths and I appreciated the hell out of the moment, as I’m sure they probably did too. 

I love to infinity and beyond Sam’s gentle touch with Dean. He practically coaxed Dean out of his room by not giving in, but by also giving his brother space to see that Sam was right…and I truly believe that Dean believes that Sam believes in him! That’s a lot of believing going on right there! But Sam’s unwavering faith in his brother, even if on the inside he’s scared, is what’s holding Dean together right now, and gosh don’t you just love him all the more for that.

There were some wonderful small moments that spoke volumes as to how connected the brothers are right now. 

I loved Sam picking up on Dean’s concern about being left alone when they were investigating the case. He was so quick to suggest they didn’t split up, without sounding smothering, and then when Dean said he was okay – there was that little touch on Dean’s shoulder as Sammy walked away. He did that last week too in the closing scene in the bunker. Just a little touch to reassure… sigh.

I loved that Dean answered the phone to Sam, even though he had a girl possibly on the hook! There was no, look, hang up, back in pocket as he’s done in the past. Sure he was conflicted (as Tina made her exit), but never for a moment did I think he wouldn’t pick up. I thought that said a lot about his trust in Sam now, and how much he needs him and is leaning on him. In that moment, Sam was more important than anything. And I’m glad Dean had a drink. I glad he said, “I’m going to believe in myself”. He had a fair amount of booze too, stayed cool, funny, charming and didn’t go all crazy Mark of Cain. See Dean, Sam is right, you can do it. And I always get the warm and fuzzies when we hear anything about the Winchesters growing up, so Dean sharing his stories of crazy-assed mac ‘n cheese recipes with Tina was a pure delight. And Tina was great. I liked her as an adult and I liked her as a kid. 

Then there was the ending. Sam saying to Dean, “I wanted you back”... He might as well have told Dean then and there that he loved him. Just… I was biting my lip in wibbly wobbly happiness! And then, “We’ll figure it out. We always do” echoing Dean’s words to Sam in that church at the end of “Sacrifice”. OH MY HEART THE FEELS!

You know, when Dean said “Damn right” after that, I totally felt like in that moment Dean did believe they would figure it out. It’s like through this episode, through the unfailing confidence Sam continues to show in Dean, through Dean’s ability to get through the case and not “Hulk out”, through just the tonne of love getting thrown around here, something in Dean shifted, and it left my heart all a flutter. 

Other stuff I loved:

The whole opening montage of Dean searching for information on the Mark. Just beautiful.

Dean not thinking because cake.

Sam hitting the guy's head on the bar!

Sam's face when he found Dean's boot *wibble*

That lady thinking that Dean was Sam's son. Bahaha!

Dean moving the Impala's seat forward squishing Sam's knees. ARGGHHH I LOVED THAT. I rewound that bit about 42 times.

Sam's Dean can't drink joke.

The gorgeous Impala shots and the gorgeousness of everything in general.

Dean shoving the witch in the oven. I kept screaming - SHOVE HER IN THE OVEN!

Tina and her second chance. I hope she makes the best of it.

The connection of the witch (she was awesome) to Rowenna and the grand covern and the tease that the witch story is going to be this season's end game.

I instantly rewatched “About A Boy” after I finished it the first time. Then I watched it again in the morning, then again that night, then again just now before I wrote this – and I’ll watch it again after I post this, because…it just makes me that damn happy. The whole episode was a joy from beginning to end. 

I don’t know where we’re going next, but I can’t wait to see, and I’m so thankful to be taking this journey with these two amazing brothers. I know it’s probably going to get worse (again) before it gets better(ish) – but right now, everything feels a little bit more hopeful, different. And then Dean laid rubber as he roared away listening to Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off”!!! It was the perfect button, to a perfect episode. Shake it off. Yep.

-sweetondean



OH I ALMOST FORGOT HOODY DEAN! I want to snuggle him...

The Light on Spoilers, Heavy on Squee Preview of Supernatural 10x12 "About A Boy"

Woohoo! Time for another preview, which means it's nearly new Supernatural day! My favourite day of all! So let's see...what magic can we expect this week?

THEN

NOW

When I first heard about this episode I was all...hmmmm I wonder if Dean will be young Dean inside and out, or if 36 year old Dean will be inside 14 year old Dean's body...which is what I was hoping for...AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET!

I've never made a secret of the fact that I was crazy about "Bad Boys". I pretty much wrote a freakin' love letter to it! Young Dylan Everett, who played the then 14 year old Dean Winchester, practically channelled Jensen Ackles' Dean Winchester, turning in a uncanny performance. I adored finding out about a part of Dean's life we never even knew existed, and I adored watching Sam find out about that life too. Seeing how Dean's life could have turned out was sad...except then we saw him choose Sam, and suddenly the world was filled with rainbows and puppies! I cried buckets of tears and was filled to the brim with bubbles of love. It was a truly wonderful episode, written by Adam Glass.

Now, Adam is back taking another stab at young Dean. Once again, Dylan Everett will step into the role of the elder Winchester...except this time, the elder Winchester is the younger Winchester and well...let's look at the synopsis!

ABOUT A BOY

DEAN IS TURNED INTO HIS 14 YEAR OLD SELF — Looking to get Dean out of the bunker, Sam finds a case for him and Dean to investigate – people are disappearing into thin air with only their clothes left behind. Sam and Dean suspect fairies or angels, but the truth turns out to be much more shocking – Hansel (guest star Mark Acheson), from Hansel and Gretel lore, is kidnapping people and turning them into their younger selves to placate the evil witch (guest star Lesley Nicol). Unfortunately, Dean finds this information out the hard way after he becomes Hansel’s next victim and reverts to his 14 year old self. Serge Ladouceur directed this episode written by Adam Glass (#1011). 

The whole idea just makes me giddy! And like I said, I was wondering how it would play out because the synopsis doesn't make it clear as to whether Dean is actually 14 or just has the appearance of 14...but I think the promo answers that question!

"Hi ya Sammy" He woke up looking like Bieber! Bahaha! Oh gosh, I really want to see Dean struggling with being junior Dean and Sam having to deal with the whole thing. It looks like a tonne of fun.

Of course this does mean we will get less Jensen Ackles...because obviously...young Dean. But that's cool.  I can't wait to see this side of Dean, maybe find out just a little bit more about my favourite character in the history of forever (and also Jensen probably had a nice few days off and I'll never begrudge him that.)


We do get to see grow'd up Dean though...

Of course the boys don't believe in aliens. About the only thing they don't believe in! Faeries, sure! Aliens, nup! That's obviously too ridiculous to consider!

Now here's the thing I've been pondering, if Dean becomes 14 year old Dean, does that mean for the time he's his younger self, he doesn't have the Mark of Cain? Because if he's reverting to his 14 year old self, surely that would mean the Mark of Cain would vanish for that period of time, because his 14 year old self didn't have it. And if that's the case, Dean will actually experience not having the Mark for a while. Oh my gosh! Of course he will have raging hormones and acne...which might actually be worse! Okay, maybe not worse...but I wonder what's going to happen surrounding the Mark if it does disappear while Dean's 14? It's the central storyline for the brothers, so there must be some impact if it is gone briefly, giving Dean a break from the overwhelming sensations that it's creating inside him, or if it's still there and Dean's having to deal with that and the emotional upheaval of being a teenage boy! Gah! But I do feel like it won't be present while he's 14...what do you think?

Either way, I really can't wait for this episode. It's going to be fun seeing Sam and young Dean working the case together and it's going to be interesting to see their conversations and what, if anything, this predicament of Dean's brings up. 

I'm also looking for forward to seeing Dylan again, because I thought he did a bang up job of portraying junior Dean.

I feel like there may be some fun to be had in this episode (which we could all do with right about now), but I'm sure, as with all of Adam Glass' episodes, it will be laden with feels and be much deeper than we expect it to be. And of course, it's going to be gorgeous to look at, because Director of Photography, Serge Ladouceur is in the Director's chair for this one.

So yep...I'm excited! Oh what am I talking about! I'm excited to see all Supernatural episodes! It's been a pretty heavy emotional time recently though, so some lightness might do us all good. But I hope the situation gives the brothers another opportunity to connect, because the way they're connecting this season is my favourite thing ever.

What do you think? Are you excited to see how this all plays out?

Let me know in the comments!

-sweetondean

Review: Supernatural 10x11 "There's No Place Like Home" - Let's Get To Work

I won’t lie…I love an episode that’s pretty much all bros. For me, Supernatural is at its best when it gets back to its roots and concentrates on where this show all began; with the brothers. There’s something magical about an episode that is all about Sam and Dean facing down a foe, side by side. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy Cas’ and Crowley’s stories…but, when we focus on just the brothers…on just the one storyline…especially if that revolves around the brothers’ current plight, and involves a much loved guest star…well then I’m a happy camper.

“There’s No Place Like Home” left me a very happy camper. The kind of happiness that only Supernatural can give me... The kind that leaves me a sobbing mess! Yep, I sobbed at the end of this episode. Great, big, ugly crying sobs!

I kid you not. I bawled. And it was a mixed up bawling of feels, because I was crying for how sad I am for Dean and what he’s going through; how scared and broken and desperately ashamed of himself he is. He looks so lost. But I was also so happy! So happy that the brothers are facing this demonic tramp-stamp together. It was all as magical as the realm, which the episode revolved around. 

“You can do this. We can do this.” 

Oh, Sammy *hugs TV*.  Perfect brothers are perfect.

I had the warm and fuzzies right from the get go. Well, not when Dark Charlie was beating the snot out of that guy, but from when we opened on the shot of Sam in the bunker and the show title “There’s No Place Like Home” came up on screen. My head knew that was just the name of the episode and a Wizard of Oz reference because of Charlie and stuff, but my heart saw Sam and the Bunker and the word home, and I melted a little *sighs the sigh of a fangirl in love* Then, when I was already going squeeeeee, Dean brings in breakfast for them both. 

There’s something so wonderful about the brothers cooking for each other. And every time we see it happen, I always feel like there hasn’t been any “Hey Sammy, you want some breakfast?” conversations going on. Just that one of them decides to make a grilled cheese sandwich, or an egg white omelette and so he makes one for his brother at the same time. Why does this fill me with love bubbles? I don’t know, but it totally does! 

I could help but giggle at Dean’s attempt to keep the Mark of Cain in check by eating healthy food. The way Jensen played it was very funny. Dean’s 12 steps and Sam’s response made me guffaw. 

“Haven’t had a drink in a week, eight hours of rack time every night, and now this masterpiece.”

“That’s three steps.” 

“Shut up and eat.” 

Oh boys! 

But it was also kinda heartbreaking. Dean is desperately trying to live with the Mark of Cain, trying to stay clean and sober, hoping that would help him to control his dark-side bursting forth and going all killy again - while every part of him screams for blood on the insides. Because what else can he do at this point? There seems to be no answers on how to remove the damn thing. Plus, Sam believes he can do it, and so Dean’s going to try whatever he can, even if that means becoming the anti-Dean. 

Actually, here’s the thing, and yes I’ve been over thinking again. After a few re-watches, it started to dawn on me that maybe what Dean’s doing is trying to be more like Sam. I mean, he’s eating Sam food! He even says that dorks like Sam eat egg white omelettes. Then there was the green smoothie thing (which he also made for Sam…swoon), and that Kale sandwich (nice shout out to Collins, the King of Kale!)

I started to wonder, if to control the Mark of Cain, whether consciously or not, Dean was trying to be more like his brother. Sam’s been through these dark times before. He’s lived with the demon blood and all that brought with it, he’s overcome a blood addiction, he came out the other side of being soulless. He’s been afflicted by the supernatural, gone bad, and come back from it good, with his humanity intact. And Dean was there, watching him go through all of this. So maybe without even knowing, in Dean’s attempts to control his dark-side, he’s trying to be more like Sam. Sam is the good to Dean's darkness. Two halves of one whole. Am I crazy? Probably, but I hope it wasn’t just my starry eyed Winchester loving heart reading Dean’s actions like this, because I seriously hope Sam sees it too. For me it spoke to how much Dean admires his brother and his brother’s continual strength, that he would turn to Sam’s dork food and clean(er) living to battle against his own dark side - a battle his brother conquered. 

Sam is Dean’s stone number one; he’s there 100% for his brother, and it does Dean the world of good to know that the one person he loves more than anything, has his back so completely. Honestly, Sam is giving me hearts in eyes the way he’s standing so strong for Dean.

The other thing Sam’s doing is giving Dean space. He’s not on at Dean all the time – which is a misstep he’s taken with his brother in the past. He knows that to harp at Dean, to continually openly worry, will only end up in pushing his fiercely proud and stubborn brother away. Sam’s not trying to hold Dean back or openly freak out (I’m sure he’s internally freaking the hell out). He’s there for Dean to lean on if he needs him. He’s there to tell Dean he can do it, they can do it. He’s standing beside his brother without smothering him. He’s been down this road himself, and he’s being as smart as hell in how he’s handling the whole situation. You can see he’s watching every move Dean makes, trying to decide whether to jump in or not, watching to see if Dean can control his anger. But he’s not intervening – and he won’t, unless he has to. 

This is massively important, because if Sam says to Dean, “I believe in you, I believe you have the power in you to control this thing”, he can’t then be acting like he doesn’t believe. In allowing Dean trust, in waiting to see if Dean can reign himself in when he’s interrogating the lawyer guy for example, or in allowing Dean to be on his own to keep an eye on Dark Charlie’s next mark, he’s reinforcing for Dean that belief. He’s backing his own words. He may be worried sick about doing it, but if he says, “I believe in you”, he also has to back that up with his actions, and that’s what he’s doing, and it’s bloody brilliant to watch.

Just by being there, Sam calms Dean, His words, his touch, it all goes towards helping Dean see beyond the fury inside him. I appreciate the hell out of Sam Winchester and I’m with Jared, Brother!Sam is my favourite Sam, followed closely by Smart!Sam, and right now, he’s both.

Dean, of course, is killing me. He’s hanging on by the thinnest of threads. At the beginning of the episode his hands are shaking, but by the end, once the Mark has been sated by violence, his hands are rock steady. That just adds to the whole tragedy. Because no matter what he tries to do to control the effects of the Mark of Cain, the only thing that actually controls it, is the thing that drives it. Blood. I totally have faith Dean is powerful enough to control the nasty ass thing on his arm, but as he so rightly said, Cain had years of giving into the Mark before he was able to contain it. Also, for Cain, containing the Mark meant isolating himself from everyone else, which is not something Dean is going to ever want to do. Dean needs his people. The Mark has to go. 

Dean’s internal battle between his good side and his dark side was framed by Charlie’s return from Oz. Because Charlie came back split in two and her battle to reconcile herself with the darkness that lay with in her – but that was actually out roaming on its own (!) - mirrored Dean’s current predicament.

I love Charlie. She’s a character I can relate to. She’s a character I can see actually living in our world! The way she has integrated into the Winchester’s lives warms my cockles. Dean calls her “our” Charlie. He’s so shocked and put out that she’s back and didn’t call them! And I loved the way he defended her at every step, over the video, or the psych report – relating it back to him and Sam. Dean just couldn’t believe that their Charlie would be anything but sparkly! I think that went a long way towards trusting Dark Charlie to go into the office of man who killed her parents, because he wanted to believe that his Charlie would never kill anyone. Of course, he also wanted to believe that the dark side of Charlie could control the urge to kill, because if she can…maybe there’s a chance Dean can too. But of course she couldn’t, which sent Dean off to a bar and stumbling on at least one of the 3-steps in his plan.

The scene in the bar with Dean and Dark Charlie was one of my favourites, because Charlie had a line that reinforced something that Sam said to Dean in last week’s episode…

“You know what I learned about being dark, it sets you free, and part of you knows that’s right [too]”

This relates directly back to Sam insightfully telling Dean that there was part of Dean that wanted to give in to the Mark of Cain. Having that thing on him, giving into it, clears him somehow – because there’s something he can blame, but not only that, allowing the Mark to take him back to a demon state would set him free from guilt altogether. That’s when Dean was at his darkest…he was all dark (and all hot) and he was totally free. Dean’s always struggled with the belief that he’s a killer, he’s always lived with, at sometimes, crippling guilt over what he’s done, but being dark freed him of all of that and there must be a part of him that longs now for the kind of release that being a demon gave him. 

Charlie also had some great scenes with Sam. I think I’ve said before that I love that Sam and Charlie have become closer. They seem like two peas in a pod to me. Where as Dean’s relationship with Charlie seems very much big brother, little sister, Sam’s relationship with Charlie seems more of equals and more of a friendship. Not to say that Sam isn’t protective of Charlie, we certainly saw him spin into action to save our favourite geek girl at the end of the episode. Sam holding Charlie in his arms on the ground as she sobbed was so gorgeous. Though Dean over in the corner, looking at his bloodied knuckles, stunned into disbelief and shame at what he’d done kind of hogged my attention a little. Damn these Winchesters pulling my heart in ever which way!

The whole closing scene between Charlie and Dean, as Sam watches on was oh so ouchy. Dean could barely look at Charlie because of what he did to her and she totally calls him out on never forgiving himself. Yay Charlie! But Charlie also said to Dean something us fans think all the time, he’s got something special, he’s got something Cain never had (Dean’s eyes flick to Sam *heart explodes*) he’s a Winchester. YES! YES TO INFINITY AND BEYOND! Charlie, you rock!

I’m hopeful that Charlie will be back. She’s off on quest. Remember how she wanted a quest? Well now she’s got one, and it’s very personal and important to her, because now she gets to try and save a member of her family. Because like so many others that have crossed the Winchesters’ path, Charlie is now very much a part of the brother’s family that don’t end with blood. I’m sure we’ll hear from her by phone, from Italy! But I do hope we see her again, because I like her a hell of a lot and that only increases with each visit she pays us.

There were a few other moments that I really liked and want to mention:

The interrogation of the lawyer… HOT HOT HOT! Those close ups of Dean! Thanks Phil!

The rock aliases “Agents Gabriel and Collins” GENESIS! How very biblical.

Rocket and Groot!

Dean reaching out to touch and reassure Sam when Charlie called him an albatross. Awwwww!

Charlie telling the boys that secrets are bad. RIGHT ON SISTER! (Listen to her dudes!)

Dean eating almonds while listening to Bob Singer teaching him how to quiet his mind by minding his quiet!

Dean yelling out “Son of a bitch”, calling Baby, Baby, jacking a new car, reading up on mammograms, loving bubbly jacuzzis! Oh bless.

The fabulous special effects with the Wizard coming through the broken mirror and the crazy green rope that tied up Sam. 

Sam being tied up. (There’s always something awesome about the boys being tied up. Don’t tell me you don’t feel the same way!)

Dean being honest and saying “No” when Sam asks if he’s good. (I’m so proud of you, Dean.)

“There’s No Place Like Home” ticked all the boxes for me. I loved the further extension of the Oz story, all the brother moments, all the brothers with Charlie moments. There were laughs and tears and feels a plenty, plus I was fully involved in every aspect of the story from the open to the close. Once again, Robbie Thompson turned in a corker of a script. The performances were as usual, spot on. Jensen never ceases to amaze me in how much of Dean he shows without saying a damn word. I’ve never loved a character so much in my life and I know I never will and so much of that is because of what Jensen infuses into Dean Winchester each week. For me, he is the most complex and beautiful character on television and this episode was a brilliant representation of that. Jared’s Sam is always a gorgeous thing, but right now he’s exuding this strength that seems to fill the whole screen – sure he’s gigantic, but it’s like he’s filled with power right now…dare I say, the power of love. I DID! I DARED! Ack. Sam’s awesome. And Felicia’s two Charlies were two perfect halves of a perfect whole. I loved them both. I love her.

I’m all verklempt! But weirdly, I saw a glimmer of hope at the end of this episode, but maybe that was just the light gleaming off Dean’s knight in shining armour standing at his side. Sam and Dean are as together as I’ve ever seen them. United. Trusting. Caring. Talking. Fighting one of the most important fights they’ve ever had to fight. Yup. I’m crying again. Tears of pain and love. How very Supernatural.

-sweetondean

(P.S. I need fanart of the MoC actually as a tramp-stamp. Can someone sort that out for me? Please and thank you).